Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Do as I do, not as you do

I can't stand it! HELLO?!!! The car behind me was flashing his blue emergency light in the windshield (volunteer firefighter rushing to a call)

...me in bumper-to-bumper traffic just outside of Bridgehampton ...

I finally was able to pull into an opening between two utility vehicles parked on the side of the road to let the guy pass, and HALF A DOZEN trucks and cars continued after him, not ONE letting me back in!

RUDE RUDE RUDE! And I KNOW none of THEM let him pass!

It's a LAW to let emergency vehicles sirens and lights blasting to go past you! And how RUDE not to let those of us who do, to let us back into the lane! AAAuuugh!

4 comments:

While I totally agree with everything you said about the rude people out here, it is not law, just courtesy for volunteers. You only have to yield to ambulances, police and fire vehicles. I feel your pain though.

It's unclear to me, reading the NYS law, if, in fact, vehicles displaying a flashing blue light, owned by a volunteer firefighter, become emergency vehicles when used on a fire call. Nevertheless, common sense says to yield so these great folks can do their jobs.

Excerpt from Section 375 (41). NYS "4. Blue light. a. One blue light may be affixed to any motor vehicle owned by a volunteer member of a fire department or on a motor vehicle owned by a member of such person's family residing in the same household or by a business enterprise in which such person has a proprietary interest or by which he or she is employed, provided such volunteer firefighter has been authorized in writing to so affix a blue light by the chief of the fire department or company of which he or she is a member, which authorization shall be subject to revocation at any time by the chief who issued the same or his or her successor in office. Such blue light may be displayed exclusively by such volunteer firefighter on such a vehicle only when engaged in an emergency operation. The use of blue lights on vehicles shall be restricted for use only by a volunteer firefighter except as otherwise provided for in subparagraph b of this paragraph."

And of course, there is also mention that those of us who DO yield, should basically take our time to re-enter the traffic lane, so as not to disrupt the flow. So I guess I'm wrong about expecting someone to let me in. :D